Life of Trainer Lines 2

By TMan87 and Pikachu315111. Released: 2021/08/10.
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Life of Trainer Lines 2 art

Art by Shadowshocker.

Introduction

While we may have explained a tiny section of the life as a regular Pokémon Trainer last time, there are still many Trainers who have stories to tell about themselves. For the second time in a row, we will disregard the particularly talented child and their armada of insanely powerful gods and genetically engineered warbeasts and shift the spotlight to the simpler, humbler workers who spend their days making sure the Pokémon World actually turns like it's supposed to. We are even highlighting some rougher lines this time around, so fasten your seat belts and make sure your life jacket is easily reachable under your seat!

Rocker/Guitarist

Rocker

Rockers are big fans of electronic music. They're such big fans they carry around with them electronic equipment such as wires and megaphones. Because they probably want to make loud noise and music (and their Pokémon of choice like to suddenly cause explosions), they aren't commonly found and stick to open areas. They also stick close to Routes that have major cities or power sources nearby so they can quickly recharge their equipment.

Being a Rocker looks to be a lonely life, as not many would want to be around someone loud and who wildly wields electricity, but as long as they have their music, Rockers don't care. But what if a Rocker decides they want to do more than just listen to their favorite music and compose it? They may trade in their megaphone for a guitar and become a Guitarist.

How would they use their Pokémon? The most obvious way would be using their Pokémon to power their electronic equipment. However, an Electric-type Pokémon can help more than just being a power source. A Rocker may also use their Pokémon to create lightning effects such as a bright flash and electric arcs. If their Pokémon is Voltorb, they have a special use for them: by having them explode, they can test out a location's acoustics.

Guitarist

Guitarists have moved past simply enjoying music to composing it in the genre they love. Now actually making music instead of trying to be loud, they're found in more places in and near towns and cities. Ones found on Routes are likely trying to compose a new song, either wanting a quiet place to practice or looking for inspiration (or both). Ones found in towns and cities are likely looking for or have a gig; some are performing at a TV station or are part of a band. But whether they're a free agent or have a studio contract, this doesn't change their love for electronic music and rebellious freedom to compose what they feel like.

How would they use their Pokémon? As with Rockers, Electric-type Pokémon would help them power their equipment and provide lighting effects. And while plenty still use the Voltorb family, they've also expanded to using other Pokémon with sound and musical skills to help with acoustics, finding a rhythm and beat, and maybe incorporate them into the song.

Tuber Branching Path

Tuber

Tubers are young boys and girls who play in the water while staying afloat with a plastic inner tube. They likely don't know how to swim, aren't good or strong swimmers, or just feel safer in the water with an inner tube around them. Despite their swimming capability, they still like to play on Routes and locations open to deep water, usually a beach connected to an ocean.

While most are likely just having a fun day at the beach, a few feel a strong connection to the water that makes them want to overcome their need of an inner tube. They'll learn not only how to swim, but how to swim most efficiently with the best techniques and form. They'll be on their way of becoming a Swimmer.

How would they user their Pokémon? All Tubers have Pokémon that can swim (even that odd one who has a Zigzagoon). They can play games with their Pokémon while in the water, maybe even have their Pokémon push or drag them around. Their Pokémon can also swim them to safety if they get in trouble, such as their inner tube breaking or them getting caught in a strong rip current. Their preference toward the Azurill family could be for this reason, as their tail acts like a buoy that can be held onto.

Swimmer

Not all Swimmers are necessarily professional swimmers. Many are just young men and women hanging out on the beach, possibly a favorite pastime. All are likely good swimmers (though I'm sure in some games there was the joke of a Swimmer saying they're not good at swimming), leaving behind their inner tube days and providing players more challenging battles on water Routes.

For most Swimmers, just being able to swim in the ocean and hang out on the beach with their friends and family is enough. However, for more dedicated Swimmers, this is just the beginning. Having mastered their swimming techniques to the point they could now probably keep up with some Water-type Pokémon, there are several career paths they can take depending on what they're looking to do.

How would they user their Pokémon? The casual Swimmers would have their Pokémon be a beach companion, someone to play, talk, and relax with. Dedicated Swimmers, though, would likely have their Pokémon be training partners, racing with and learning from them. In both cases, the Water-type Pokémon also can help their Trainer if they ever get in danger while in the water.

Triathlete (Swimmer)

Swimmers who are looking to compete against other professional Swimmers may join swimming competitions. Such competition is the triathlon, one which combines three sports together in one race: running, cycling, and swimming. If a Swimmer only wants to swim, they can join a team triathlon where they only need to focus on the swimming portions of the race, with their teammates handling the other parts. Training for a triathlon would be different than training for a swim meet (instead of swimming for a long time and distance, it's a relatively short burst), as such a Swimmer has to decide whether triathlons are for them or if they want to strictly stick to competitive swimming.

How would they use their Pokémon? In addition to using them as a training partner, Triathlon Swimmers can use their Pokémon to guide them along Routes during practice so they can get a feel for the swimming course of upcoming triathlons.

Scuba Diver & Free Diver

If a Swimmer isn't interested in competition but instead wants to explore the ocean, they may choose to become a Diver. Becoming a Diver requires more than just good swimming skills; a Diver would have to make hefty purchases, such as a tight wetsuit, flippers, goggles, underwater breathing apparatus (though Free Divers may not use one), and any other supplies they'd need to dive in deep. Because of this, and wanting to explore all different parts of the ocean, Divers would likely be part of a group, whether its an advertised expedition opportunity, volunteering for an ocean research study, or working for a salvage crew. However they go about it, a Diver makes big plans to go on underwater adventures to experience the vastness of the ocean and the secrets that it holds.

How would they use their Pokémon? This is likely the most dangerous path a Swimmer can take, so their Pokémon are focused on guiding them and assuring their safety. The Free Diver would also be using her Pokémon to find objects to collect (like Lanturn providing light or Azumarill using its acute hearing) or Pokémon she catches if they have something she can collect off them (Clamperl, Luvdisc, Corsola, etc.).

Surfer

Some Swimmers may discover that, while they enjoy swimming, what they really want to do is ride the waves. To do that, they get out of the water and start riding over the surface on a surfboard, learning how to balance themselves on it. If they get good enough, they could enter surfing competitions. Whereas Triathletes focus on competing and Divers want to explore, Surfers just want to hang loose, have fun, and look cool while doing it. This could be why there's only four Surfers you ever battle, and they're usually around the beach areas where surfing can take place.

How would they use their Pokémon? Balancing on a surfboard is very tricky, as the slightest shift in weight can cause you to wipe out. A Surfer could use their Pokémon to act like a counterweight to help them get their footing while looking awesome because you're surfboarding with your Pokémon. In some cases, the Pokémon could even BE the board; Route 12's Surfer does have a Mantine, which is what some people in Alola use to surf between islands. There's also the possibility of their Pokémon giving them a boost of speed; Route 15's Surfer has a Remoraid that could attach itself to the back of his board and shoot out a jet of water.

Cyclist

Cyclist

In the world of Pokémon, cycling seems to be a rare occurrence, given how few Cyclists there are. It makes sense, though, as the price for a bike is absurd: a million Pokémon dollars! The currency being based on Japanese yen indicates a bike is worth roughly 9000 dollars, or 8000 euros. No wonder you don't see much people riding their bike! The few that do actually ride one are dedicated; since a bike is such an investment in the Pokémon world, one might as well base their entire lifestyle around it! They buy equipment like their cap with a peak to protect their eyes while riding, and then it's time to ride. As you'd expect, biking day in and day out made them quite fit. You can't really accumulate fat if you're always pedaling on the road, which makes them good fitness and health counselors, maybe more so than some other sport-based Trainer Classes.

When they challenge the player, it's more to take a break than to actually win... and they never actually come off the bike!

They may enter sport circles and even participate in cycling competitions if they feel like competing a bit, though not all Cyclists have that streak within. Some of them will stick to cycling, and a majority of "casual" Cyclists will, but the ones that want to go above and beyond might do well to have a glance at other sports...

How would they use their Pokémon? Honestly, most Cyclists could be more or less the same without their Pokémon, which may help to explain where there are so few Cyclists Pokémon Trainers, but those who do, simply take them along for a ride. Most of the Pokémon a Cyclist may possess are those who would gladly run or fly for a bit before getting carried by their Trainer. Ponyta would probably be happy to run alongside its Trainer for the entire day, though.

Triathlete (cycling)

Triathletes! They can run, they can swim, and they can bike! All at once! Well, maybe not. In our case, we are going to focus on the Triathletes appearing with their bike, meaning they tend to do better at biking than running or swimming.

Interestingly enough, all Triathletes come from Hoenn. This is hardly a surprise: 78% of Hoenn is covered in water, making swimming practice really easy. There are long roads through various environments, which are useful to build running stamina, and... it's the region with the biggest interest in bikes! They have not one, but two bikes: the Acro Bike and Mach Bike. All of these conditions crown Hoenn as the best place to become a Triathlete.

In particular, if a Cyclist has enough interest to transcend their love for their bike and try their hand at the other two sports, they can become a Triathlete. While they still hold their bike above all, they are willing to put in a little practice and shine at competitions.

Competitions: they're the name of the game. While many Cyclists could do so as a hobby, Triathletes specifically aim to become the best. They changed gear from a nice cap to an actual helmet and cool goggles, and their bike looks much more geared towards a competitive setting. Being good at biking allows the former Cyclist to try to take the lead during the cycling part, as their superior knowledge of the bike and better speed/stamina ratio is used to their advantage.

How would they use their Pokémon? It looks like electric bikes are allowed in competitions. Former Cyclists use their Electric-type Pokémon to quickly recharge their bike and lose the least possible amount of time. While you could think this gives them an unfair advantage, it is offset by the Pokémon used by the other Triathletes in the other phases; after all, Electric-type Pokémon are rather useless during the running or swimming phases...

Jogger

Jogger

Joggers are young men who are interested in staying in good health and physical shape. Every morning, usually before most other people are awake, a Jogger would follow their routine of jogging either a set path or for a certain distance through a park or Route, alongside a road, or their neighborhood. Joggers are mainly focused on their health instead of competing, though there are marathon races where hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people jog several miles, usually for a social cause or charity. If a Jogger likes running and racing, they may transition to making this hobby into a profession.

How would they user their Pokémon? The three Pokémon families Joggers mainly use are all "jogging" partners to keep them on track. The Ponyta family are fast runners, the Starly family are nimble flyers, and the Shinx family are always energized. They all have good stamina, so they can keep up with a Jogger to help him exercise and improve his own stamina.

Triathlete (Runner)

In a triathlon, running is usually the last segment of the race (usually after the cycling segment). While getting a lead in the previous segments gives a triathlete a major advantage, the running segment is the biggest challenge for a triathlete, as this is where they would be the most tired (especially their legs). Even in races where triathletes work on a team, the Runner would need to keep their stamina up and breathing steady and be aware of their stride and footing. A runner would also need to know when to exert themselves and when to steady their pace, since spending all their energy early on or slowing down at the wrong spot can cost them time and even the race.

How would they user their Pokémon? Runners only use the Doduo family, which are famously fast runners. They make for great training partners, as they provide the Runner with a fast target to keep up with. Only a Runner who has a strong stamina and perfected their form would be able to keep up with a Doduo or Dodrio for a long distance.

Youth Athlete

Youth Athlete

Youth Athletes are exactly what they appear and say to be. They are Youngsters and Lasses who are interested in baseball and tennis, respectively. Playing sports is a good way for kids and teens to get exercise, build strength and endurance, develop coordination skills, learn how to work on a team, and also maybe learn humility and give respect. For some kids, gym class is the worst, but for Youth Athletes, it's their favorite time of the day!

How would they user their Pokémon? It is hard to imagine for normal sports to exist in the Pokémon World, or at least that there also isn't a Pokémon version of the sport. At this point in their life, I would imagine a Youth Athlete would play the Pokémon version of their favorite sport, trying to emulate their favorite sports star. Like regular Youngsters and Lasses, their Pokémon would primarily be their playmates.

Hoopster, Infielder, Linebacker, Smasher, Striker, & Golfer

Even though a boy Youth Athlete would become an Infielder and a girl Youth Athlete would become a Smasher, I'm including the other sports too, as the baseball bat and tennis racket are just meant to show they're interested in sports in general and not a specific sport.

Many kids who are into sports usually fall out of it when they get older, possibly becoming casual fans who keep track of a favorite team and/or player. However, for those who have the drive and skills, they can continue playing sports and try to make a career out of it. The road to become a professional athlete in any sport is a long one that requires a lot of determination, practice, and lifestyle adjustment. The last point is probably the most important; a lot of time will be spent on keeping in shape, practicing, sticking to a certain diet, and travelling around. The sad truth is that not many will become professional athletes, but the few that do have worked hard to get where they are and keep on working hard to continue to live their dream.

How would they user their Pokémon? Disregarding whether there are professional Pokémon versions of these sports, when we go to the professional scene, there is much more Pokémon can do: carry around equipment, clean the playing field, fill in positions during practice, be a practice partner or opponent, act as a bodyguard, and other skills or services the athlete may need to keep playing at their best. And if an athlete becomes very famous, their Pokémon can be a mascot for them and share in the fame and pampered treatment.

Cook

Cook

Cooks are rarely seen at all in the Pokémon games, which is definitely strange given how many food places and restaurants you can find in the Pokémon world. While many Trainer Classes could be scarce due to some external circumstances (say, not fighting many Channelers in Unova, where technology reigns supreme), I'm pretty sure food is a basic need for humans and Pokémon of all regions.

There is, however, an explanation: it is hard to conjugate professional cooking with Pokémon battling. Cooks usually have their hands full with taking orders and cooking as fast and well as possible; battling them at their workplace is near impossible. This leaves them able to battle outside of work hours... but then they may not have the time or energy to do so, as their work can be physically and mentally taxing and they'd probably want to rest. Not to mention the Cooks who travel abroad to learn new cooking techniques, although most of them work at a local level, like family restaurants.

Not only is cooking really taxing, but it also requires a select array of innate qualities. Cooks need mental fortitude, high physical stamina, and most of all dedication. Cooking is an art, and you can't create art if you're not driven by it. This is why most Cooks started relatively young; practice and training makes it easier to focus on what you want to be doing rather than what your hands are doing.

To most Cooks, the line ends here, and that's actually fine by them, since they can prepare food to treat their family, friends, and Pokémon. However, for those who want to be true masters of their craft, new heights are within reach!

How would they use their Pokémon? Not for battling, but for cooking. For general examples, Water-types can help fetch or produce water, as well as clean dishes. Grass-types would have innate knowledge of herbs and spices. Some Pokémon are more specialized and very interesting for Cooks: the Cutiefly family can gather honey and produce Pollen Puffs, and Parasect and Shiinotic naturally grow or can easily retrieve mushrooms. Alcremie constantly produces whipped cream (and Milcery provides unwhipped cream!), and Applin can find the best apples in the basket.

Chef

Chefs are simply renowned Cooks. While this sounds outrageously simple, it's actually not. To become a Chef, a Cook must both master his craft and his Pokémon. He must work in synergy with his Pokémon to present a masterpiece every time a dish comes out of the kitchen. This takes several years of practice at the very least. However, being a Chef has some perks, most notably the prestige. Since they are exceedingly rare, Chefs reach stardom, and it's not unusual for one to be invited left and right, highly sought after by the most renowned restaurants in the world. They usually travel around the world, presenting lectures or hosting small cuisine classes, to perpetuate their own techniques and recipes. In their spare time, they like to work on said recipes, as you cannot get complacent as a Chef; there is always something to refine, new combinations to discover (Qualot Berry's complex flavor is heavily underrated), or even Pokémon to train.

You might have been wondering where do the Pokémon come into play here. It's simple: a Chef must work in sync with his Pokémon. Beyond training them to be efficient aides (knowing all utensils, for example), they must form a bond such that all kitchen partners can work with each other without hindrance, for several hours at a time, in the small space of a kitchen. Some say that bond is stronger than simple partners, stronger than family. They all know instinctively what the others are doing and need. It only adds to the fame of the top ranking Chefs, as they are also believed to be master Trainers!

How would they use their Pokémon? Since Chefs (apart from Siebold, whose unique position is more demanding) only use the Elemental monkeys, they are taking what was said in the previous section for Cooks and pushing it one notch further, refining the technique as they do with everything else regarding their craft. As perhaps best exemplified by the Striaton Gym Trio (though they are Waiters rather than Chefs), Simipour can create excellent fresh water, Simisage takes care of the vegetal side of any dish, and Simisear can cook or heat anything to the perfect temperature.

Rich Boy/Lady

Rich Boy & Lady

Both Rich Boys and Ladies follow the same concept: the child born with a silver spoon that goes on an adventure because they presumably are bored and/or want to see the world for themselves. The only difference between the two Classes lies in their personality: Rich Boys are often haughty and full of themselves, which reflects in their different artworks and sprites, while Ladies are more sympathetic and look like they're just having a good time. Now, both of these classes have money to flaunt, and it shows; they're among the only Trainers that use Full Restores in battle, and their Pokémon can even hold Nuggets, which is as useless but showy as it gets.

Fortunately, they're not stingy with their money and will give you a sizeable reward should you beat them: fighting one of them is the guaranteed way to get thousands of Pokédollars!

Once they grow experienced and manage to balance their adventuring lust with the duties their social position entails, their temperament quiets down, and a Gentleman or Madame is born.

How would they use their Pokémon? Their large selection of Pokémon means they are experimenting with what it means to be a Trainer. However, their slight preference for the Zigzagoon line could stem from Zigzagoon's ability Pickup. A region tour like theirs requires a lot of money and items, and Pickup is the perfect ability to have when in need, as it can provide them with both useful battle items... and money, in the form of Nuggets.

Gentleman & Madame

At their respectable age, these fine people left the fickle hot-bloodedness of their youth behind. They are now calm and collected but still always ready for a battle... or are they? Most of their Pokémon could pass off as pets, with many dog-like Pokémon (Growlithe getting the #1 spot) for Gentlemen and "classy" Pokémon (Roselia, Carbink, Liepard, etc.) for Madames. It's almost like you just walked into them doing their daily walk around the beach and then, the rules of Pokémon being absolute, you battle them. While not as much of showoffs as their young counterparts, they still pamper their Pokémon with Luxury Balls, which is a discreet touch of elegance to mark their status.

However, to pass them off as weak old people would be a terrible mistake. In the Battle Chateau, they will pose a threat as you climb the ranks, but, more importantly, they can wield Legendary Pokémon in the Super Ranks of Battle Subway! This implies they used all of their years of wisdom and experience, as well as their large monetary reserves, to go well above and beyond what the most respected Trainers of their own world (that being the Elite Four and Champion) can achieve!

How would they use their Pokémon? Traveling can get lonely at times, but these two Classes have their trusty Pokémon alongside them to act as pets. They take comfort in their presence, and it wouldn't be too far-fetched to posit them as true friends that transcend species difference.

Backpacker (Male)

Backpacker

The Pokémon World is vast; one simply cannot do it justice by staying in the same town or even region for an entire lifespan. With that philosophy in mind, Backpackers pack up the essentials and hit the road, set to explore far and wide. Their motives may differ slightly between individuals. Some, if not most of them, are just keen on sightseeing and appreciating the wonders nature has to offer, like Kalos’s Reflection Cave and Hoenn’s Mt. Pyre. After all, you sometimes encounter Backpackers who speak different languages than the one you set, so they have to travel pretty far, right? Others, like Professor Juniper’s father, may take up the backpack to go on field research of some sort, since you obviously cannot conduct anything of the sort from an office building. Whether their motives have to do with Pokémon, geology, vegetal biology, or anything in between, this type of Backpacker is both much more focused and serious while also less likely to travel to another region than their own. However, this also means they are more inclined to become veteran roamers.

In both cases, Backpackers actually are careful planners: everyone isn’t cut for leaving behind everything they’ve ever known to live adventurously on the road, after all. While they may seem carefree, they need to plan out in advance their next stage, what they will do there, and how it fits into their grander schedule. You can’t let an unexpected downpour or a detour through some unmarked woods ruin all of your plans!

How would they use their Pokémon? Backpackers may use a variety of Pokémon, but these are often from one of the three basic “elemental” types. They are probably used to help with day-to-day survival: should they sleep outside, they can gather wood and light it up, provide or find fresh water, and so on. Normal-type Pokémon deserve a mention here, as they are notoriously versatile, which means they can quickly adapt to most situations. This makes them a perfect fit for Trainers with such an unpredictable lifestyle.

Hiker

Hikers can be seen as an older, specialized type of Backpacker. They even wear the signature backpack themselves! Hikers are either “sightseer” Backpackers who acquired a specific fondness for mountains or other rocky places like caves (though these are rare, as nature’s wonders extend far beyond rocky places), or “researcher” Backpackers who grew attached to one landscape that happens to host a good number of mountains. In both cases, they adapted to their new mountainous home by getting new gear, notably a walking pole. Younger Hikers may do without said walking pole, but as the years pass and they tirelessly travel up and down the mountain, they will certainly need it.

Some Hikers may be hired as mountain guards, going on rounds to make sure travelers are respecting the area (both landscape and Pokémon), as well as to ensure people’s safety. Most Hikers prefer to leisurely travel at their own pace, though, appropriating a small part of their rocky place of choice as if wanting to fulfill a charming and childish dream of having their very own fort. There, they will spend several hours, simply trying to achieve harmony with the stone, undisturbed.

How would they use their Pokémon? Most of their Pokémon can easily level or dig through rock, allowing them to reach further places within a cave or mountain. They will watch out for the Hiker if he attempts a difficult section of his walk, such as a cliff or a particularly tight passage, sometimes clearing up the path a bit. Respecting the stone itself is still paramount, though.

Punk Guy Branching Path

Punk Guy

This Class seems really straightforward at first glance. Their Japanese name is "Bad Guy," they use Dark-type Pokémon, and they appear gruff and intimidating. In short, they're the perfect good-for-nothings roaming the streets and assaulting anyone coming their way to get a bit of money. You can even find them in shady places like the Lost Hotel in Kalos!

However, if the story of Team Skull as a whole is anything to go by, most of these guys probably never wanted to end up with this lifestyle in the first place. The fact about Team Skull is that it's more a brotherhood of lost souls than a real villainous team. Most Team Skull members—and by extrapolation, most Punk Guys—were rejected by society one way or another. Maybe they were fired from their job and had nowhere to go. Maybe they were kicked out of their family because they had brought shame upon said family. Maybe they simply wanted to explore the world, but the universe decided it wasn't meant for them. Guzma himself dreamed of being a Trial Captain, but he couldn't (although he also had anger issues to boot). It certainly doesn't excuse any of them, but at least I want to believe they're not fundamentally bad guys, despite what their Japanese name implies.

Punk Guys live day by day, and while some value their bonds with their kin the most, there are others who really enjoy that thrilling life where tomorrow could be anything you want, so they act more as lone wolves.

How would they use their Pokémon? Obviously, they use their Pokémon to threaten the weak and get what they want. They're apparently masters of the ability Intimidate, after all.

Bikers

Punk Guys who really like traveling with comrades-in-arms and make enough to buy their own bike may become Bikers, a Class that kind of mellowed out with time. While their early representation really calls back to punk bikers, from HGSS onwards they're just large men on motorcycles. Maybe they like card games too?

Bikers are often seen in gangs. These gangs are like family to their members, replacing the one they lost or never wanted in the first place. Bikers ride together, invade places together, and care for each other. They also have a different mindset than regular Punk Guys, valuing and respecting strength. This is to be expected, since they have had to fend for themselves for so long, but they will also respect any feat coming from outside their group, as demonstrated by the Black Empoleon's leader changing the gang's name to that of the player's lead Pokémon after they defeat them.

All in all, Bikers are men who happily live as restricted family, striving to be strong and admiring those who are stronger than them.

How would they use their Pokémon? Poison-types are associated with noxious gases, and Fire-types with combustion. Yep, they're showing off their bike even in battle. Have a taste of their combustion engine and exhaust, right to your face! To be fair, these Pokémon would also help them in a pinch, as they could probably power up their bike should it run out of fuel.

Roughneck

Should a Punk Guy not want to team up with others and instead live their life alone, they'd likely end up as Roughnecks. Roughnecks look more chaotic evil than their motorized counterpart, yet they use Fighting-type Pokémon the most—quite the fact, given that the Fighting-type is associated with honor and martial arts in Japan. One of them also joined Roxie's band in BW2, showing that we should be careful in gauging this Class.

Nevertheless, unlike Bikers, they kept their intimidating look throughout generations, being bald men with leather jackets with an intimidating motif on it, whether it's Gyarados or Krookodile (yes, both are literally meant to Intimidate you). Surprisingly enough, the Street Thug's clothes have a... Plusle on them? Not as threatening, but maybe they're so sure of their strength they don't want you to hold back? In the same vein of "are you actually a nice guy?", Roughneck Kirby deserves a mention, since he has one Pokémon and it's... a Cleffa. It may be a reference to Nintendo's other famous pink puffball, but the idea of a gangster-looking humongous guy roaming around with a Cleffa at his side is still funny nonetheless.

Roughnecks, for the most part, live away from others. While it's not uncommon to find them close to other Roughnecks, chances are they're more rivals for territory than partners or even friends. They sometimes team up with Bikers, though, but whether that's out of genuine desire for friendship—maybe they wanted to follow that path but couldn't because they couldn't afford a bike—or out of pragmatism is hard to tell.

How would they use their Pokémon? Well, there may be another explanation as to why they're using Fighting-type Pokémon... and that's because they possess impressive physical strength. What for, you ask? Well, to beat up people and take their money like they used to do as Punk Guys, of course!

Punk Girl

Punk Girl

It's a bit harder to find depth in the Punk Girl than the Punk Guy. Whereas you could link Punk Guys to Skull Grunts and analyze how they act tough but like their brotherhood, rarely do female Skull Grunts seem to team together or share a strong bond like the boys do. In fact, Punk Girls seem more attached to their independence and uniqueness; a conversation in Alola's Shady House has two of them lament over the fact that they are all nearly identical, wearing the same clothes and even the same name. So identical, in fact, they cannot be differentiated.

It seems safe to assume they've rebelled against some sort of authority, just like Punk Guys, but they are more likely to have done so by themselves without the need of an external trigger. They most likely rejected the norms society wanted them to fit into (and with it most of the other female Trainer Classes) and decided to live free, even if it meant turning their back to everything they ever knew.

However, there is one thing Punk Girls do and Punk Guys don't: team up with Trainers that aren't affiliated with them. Notably, the Tourist Couple is a Doubles Trainer Class including one male Sightseer and one Punk Girl. While rare, this association shows some Punk Girls may don the outfit only for the rather stark contrast it makes with most of the other female Trainer Classes, and they aren't actually that bad or evil.

How would they use their Pokémon? For the most part, Punk Girls, unlike Punk Guys, aren't really interested in extorting people. Their Pokémon are there to reinforce their "free thug" image, but also to fight to gain credit and status among their peers.

Delinquent

The Delinquent is a seasoned Punk Girl, which explains why they're so rare. Whereas Punk Girls might just do it for the style points, Delinquents embraced their path through and through. This is reflected in their Japanese name, as "Onee-san" brings an older girl to mind, one that has matured enough to make the conscious decision to become a Delinquent. This fact is brought to a new light when considering a particular Delinquent in Mauville City, treating her junior to a meal to celebrate the latter becoming an Ace Trainer. However, this interaction is bittersweet, as the Delinquent states this is a "farewell meal," since an Ace Trainer shouldn't be seen hanging out with a Delinquent. This is a prime example of a Delinquent's maturity.

They're the female counterpart to the Street Thug, since they bear Minun on their jackets. While you could expect them to lead their own gang of Punk Girls, Delinquents are solitary, perhaps fatigued of the constant "fighting for attention" shtick. They're quietly sticking to their territory, challenging anyone who passes by. It may be because Punk Girls, despite being independent at heart, are still at their best when fighting against other Punk Girls, and thus see a life of loneliness as either pointless or outright against their lifestyle. They refuse to leave their band, and they refuse to become Delinquents. Or at least, most of them do...

How would they use their Pokémon? They have Dark-type Pokémon; know that those are not for show. They mug and rob and trap and trick people. Survival as a loner requires tactics!

Conclusion

Hopefully you now have a better grasp on how people actually live, from Johto to Kalos, from Unova to Hoenn. They keep to their daily lives, trusty Pokémon to their side, as they see the Protagonist zoom left and right, accomplishing feats far beyond their comprehension.

In their heart, though, they know. They know their life is no less valuable, and in some cases no less adventurous. They wouldn't want to pass the Protagonist audition anyway. All they want is, sometimes, a little bit of recognition. With this overview of what makes the various Trainer Lines truly unique, we do hope that, the next time you pass them, you'll stop for a bit and ponder what brought them to their specific situation. Hear what they have to say, for they likely have lots!

HTML by Ryota Mitarai. | Some sprites by Kilima. | Script by Toast++.
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